Living on Borrowed Time

time lapse photo of stars on night

it carries a poignant message. It’s a message that resonates with those of us standing here on the other side of fifty…

I did not write this and I’m not sure who did – but it carries a poignant message. It’s a message that resonates with those of us standing here on the other side of fifty (and maybe before). This is the credit that came with the copy I have:

ETA: “Later” by Boucar Diouf

Barely the day started and… it’s already six in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday and it’s already Friday.

… and the month is already over.

… and the year is almost over.

… and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.

… and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.

and we realize it’s too late to go back…

So… Let’s try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time…

Let’s keep looking for activities that we like…

Let’s put some color in our grey…

Let’s smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.

And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let’s try to eliminate the afters…

I’m doing it after…

I’ll say after…

I’ll think about it after…

We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.

Because what we don’t understand is that:

Afterwards, the coffee gets cold…

afterwards, priorities change…

Afterwards, the charm is broken…

afterwards, health passes…

Afterwards, the kids grow up…

Afterwards parents get old…

Afterwards, promises are forgotten…

afterwards, the day becomes the night…

afterwards life ends…

And then it’s often too late….

So… Let’s leave nothing for later…

Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,

the best experiences,

best friends,

the best family…

The day is today… The moment is now…

We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.

So let’s see if you have time to read this message and then share it.

Or maybe you’ll leave it for… ′′ later “…

And you’ll never share it….

***

There are many words of wisdom. There are many words we think we will slow down and appreciate—after. I say this with sorrow because like the person who wrote the above words we come to this knowledge often times with bitter experience. And if not bitter experience it is with delayed knowledge and the realization that we’ve missed out on things we should not have missed out on.

***

Ecclesiastes 7:

10  Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11  Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

12  For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

13  Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?